Description

Wisteria –

There are about 10 twinning woody, deciduous climbers in this genus.  They natural occur in moist woodlands and on stream banks in China, Korea, Japan, and Central and Southern USA.  They have alternate, pinnate, dark green leaves, to 14” or more long composed of 9-19 ovate to lance shaped or elliptic leaflets.  They are grown for their showy, drooping sprays of pea like, perfumed flowers, borne in spring or summer, sometimes with the leaves.  Flowers are followed by poisonous bean like green seed pods.  Train against a wall, into a large tree, over a sturdy arch or pergola, or as a standard.  All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested.

Wisterias like a sunny or partial shady position and humus-rich, well drained soil.  Although they take some time to establish, they become large, vigorous plants and need strong support.  Prune after flowering, and again in winter only if really necessary to control size.

Prone to  dieback, crown gall, leaf spots, virus diseases, Japanese beetle, aphids, leaf miners, scale insects  and mealybugs.

Wisteria floribunda ‘Royal Purple’ – Wisteria floribunda ‘Black Dragon’ – Wisteria floribunda ‘Kokuryu’ – Japanese Wisteria – This vigorous, twinning climber from Japan was brought to the USA in the 1860’s reaches heights of 30’ or more high and often lives over 50 years.  Its shiny, dark green pinnate leaves, each composed of 11-19 oblong leaflets.  In late spring, pea like, fragrant, purple flowers, the standards marked with white and yellow, are produced in pendent racemes, to 12-20” or more long, the flowers open gradually from the bases to the tips before or as the leaves emerge, they are often followed by bean like, poisonous, velvety green, oblong seed pods, to 6” long.  Prefers moist soils in full sun.

Zones 5-9